Foam dispensing device and package



Jan.

G. 1.. BOEHM ET AL 3,422,993

FOAM DISPENSING DEVIGE AND PACKAGE Original Filed May 5, 1965 sheet of 2K An.

F/a Z '1 IL K 321,1969 LBOEQM ETAL 3,422,993

FOAM DISPENSING DEVICE AND PACKAGE Original Filed May 5, 1965 Sheet 2 of2 INVENTORS United States Patent ()fiice 3,422,993 Patented Jan. 21,1969 3,422,993 FOAM DISPENSING DEVICE AND PACKAGE George L. Boehm andStephen R. Horvath, Jr., Racine, Wis, assignors to S. C. Johnson & Son,Inc., Racine, Wis.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 453,256, May 5, 1965. Thisapplication July 26, 1967, Ser. No. 656,293 U.S. Cl. 222-190 3 ClaimsInt. Cl. B65d 37/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package for dispensingfluid contained therein as a foam is described. The package comprises anouter deformable housing, rigid container within the deformable housingand a cellular material within the rigid container. The elements areconstructed and arranged in order that a fluid being dispensed from thedeformable housing and air are required to simultaneously pass into thecellular element where they are admixed prior to being dispensed as afoam.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 453,256 filedMay 5, 1965, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a foam producing device and package. Moreparticularly, the invention embraces a package containing a normallyliquid material which is dispensed from the container as a uniform foamof controllable characteristics.

Foams are essentially colloidal systems comprising a gas phase dispersedin a liquid phase. These systems are most commonly prepared by agitatinga liquid with a gas, or by whipping a gas into a liquid medium. Gasbubbles surrounded by a film of liquid are formed in large numbers, andif the surface forces of the liquid are of the proper magnitude, thefoam will persist. The most stable foams are obtained when the enclosingliquid is viscous; whereas when the enclosing liquid is highly fluid,the foams formed will be of only short duration. Although foams are mostoften not desired in commercial processes, they are eminently suitablefor other applications, since minor amounts of the enclosing liquid willcover a relatively large surface area. Moreover, if the foam is stable,the enclosing liquid can be applied to an absorbent surface such asfabric, with only limited wetting of the surface occurring. Therefore,it is often desirable to package cleaners, lotions, polishes, and thelike in order that they will be dispensed from the package as foams.

In the prior art, numerous products such as upholstery cleaners, shavingcreams, and polishes are packaged and sold in the so-called aerosolcontainers, for dispensing as foams. In these systems, the material tobe dispensed is packaged in a container along with a liquefiedpropellant, or under pressure with an inert gas such as nitrogen andcarbon dioxide. The product is dispensed through a suitable valvemechanism in order that when the mixture leaves the container, theliquid propellant or the inert gas rapidly expands, converting thedispensed material into a foam. Although these products have been highlysuccessful on the consumer market, there are disadvantages to suchpackages. Thus, the charging of the aerosol containers require specialpressurizing equipment and special valves of close tolerances. Moreover,it is necessary to employ containers which will withstand relativelyhigh pressures, particularly in the event an inert gas is used. Sincethe containers cannot be re-used, the packaging costs are oftenprohibitive for normally low-cost items such as household cleaners,lotions, and the like. Additionally, with the aerosol containers, thereis at least a minimum amount of danger as a result of explosive or firehazards brought about by the pressurized container and expandable gas.Furthermore, some liquids such as acids cannot be packaged in theconventional tin aerosol container.

In an effort to avoid the problems encountered with aerosol containers,packages have been suggested which comprise a foam producing anddispensing device comprising, in combination, a closed deformablecontainer having an opening means therein, and a compressible spongelikeelement in the container which does not completely fill the containerand which is spaced from the opening means. When a foamable substance isintroduced into the deformable container in the nonfoamy state, it isadsorbed and temporarily retained by the spongelike element and will,when the container is deformed in such a manner that the sponge elementis compressed, eject the foamable substance from the container in thefoamy state. These devices suggested by the prior art, while solving insome respects the problems of the aerosol container, are cumbersome andnot completely practical.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide adispensing device and package which is simple in construction but whichpermits the dispensing of a normally liquid material as a foam.

It is another object of the invention to provide a foamdispensing deviceand package which is capable of continuous reuse.

These and other objects of the invention will be more readily apparentfrom the following detailed description with particular emphasis beingplaced upon the drawing.

The objects of the present invention are accomplished by loading thedispensable material in a package comprising, in combination, a firstdeformable elongated container having an opening at one end of thecontainer; a second container which is substantially completely rigidwhich is positioned in the opening of the deformable container; a porouscellular or spongelike material which is placed in the rigid container,and a closure having a foam ejecting nozzle which is in engagement withthe first deformable container. The rigid container is of shorter heightthan the deformable container and contains breather openings therein. Inoperation, when the deformable container is inverted for dispensing thematerial and pressure is applied to the deformable container, air andthe material to be dispensed are forced into and through the cellularmaterial entrapping gas bubbles within the enclosing liquid. Thematerial is ejected from the container as a foam. Depending upon thedispensable liquid, particularly its viscosity and other foam-formingcharacteristics, and the nature of the cellular element, the foamdispensed will vary from a wet, relatively nonstable foam to a dry,stable foam.

As a secondary and preferred embodiment of the invention, a dip tube isattached to the bottom of the rigid container, which tube extends tosubstantially the bottom of the deformable container. In this embodimentwhen the container is inverted for dispensing the fluid containedtherein, and pressure applied to the deformable container,'air is drawnthrough the dip tube into the cellular structure. When employing a diptube, the dimensions of the rigid compartment can be substantiallylessened, as well as the amount of cellular material contained therein.Other modifications can be made in the presently disclosed structurewhich will be apparent to one skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a material part of the application,and wherein like numerals are employed to designate like partsthroughout the specification:

FIGURE 1 is a partially broken away cross-sectional view of oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the package shown inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional front view of a secnd embodiment of theinvention utilizing a dip tube;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional front view of the rigid container employedin the modification shown in FIG- URE 3; and

FIGURE shows the completed assembly of FIGURE 3 containing a dispensablematerial in the inverted, foam ejecting position.

More specifically, referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, rigid container2 is positioned in opening 1.1 of deformable housing 1. A porouscellular material 3 substantially fills container 2. Closure 4 having afoam ejecting nozzle 4.2 and an elongated inner sleeve 4.1, which isthreadably engaged with container 1, functions to direct the flow of thepackaged dispensable liquid and to retain container 2 and cellularmaterial 3 in their proper position. Thus, lip 2.3 of container 2extends over the edge of shoulder 1.2 of opening 1.1 of deformablecontainer 1. When the container is inverted and container 1 depressed,the dispensable fluid within the container is drawn into rigid container2 through breather openings 2.1. Air which is drawn in through nozzle4.2 and the dispensable fluid are admixed in the cellular material andejected from the container through nozzle 4.2 as a foam.

Although the modification shown in FIGURE 1 is highly efficient,superior foaming with smaller amounts of cellular material can beobtained by using a dip tube 2.3 positioned in opening 2.2 of container2 as seen in FIGURE 3. When the container is inverted for dispensing thematerial, as seen in FIGURE 5 dip tube 2.3 will be out of contact withthe fluid to be dispensed and will draw air into the cellular materialas the container is depressed. When employing the embodiment shown inFIGURE 3, openings 2.1 are preferably located on the bottom of thecontainer 2 rather than on the upper side as shown in FIGURE 1.

According to the invention, container 1 is preferably a flexible plasticsuch as linear polyethylene, polytetrafiuoroethylene, polyvinylchloride,and the like, or it can be a lightweight metal capable of beingdeformed. Container 2 and closure 4 which are non-deformable, orsubstantially so, can be glass, a lightweight metal, or a relativelyrigid plastic body. Because of economic considerations and itsnon-breakability, rigid plastic materials such as linear polyethyleneare preferred. The dip tube, again because of economic considerations,is preferably plastic; however, glass dip tubes can be employed.

The cellular material which is to be employed herein and retained incontainer 2 can be any porous material which is liquid adsorbing orabsorbing. Exemplary materials are the natural sponges and the syntheticspongelike materials such as polyurethane, foam rubber, vinylitesponges, polyester sponges, and the like. The synthetic materials arepreferred in that the irregular and tortuous paths extending fromsurface to surface of the materials are highly conducive to theproduction of a foam. In addition to the above spongelike material,expanded metals, porous ceramics, and the like, can be selected. Again,it is only essential that the material be porous and have an irregulartortuous path extending from surface to surface thereof.

The materials which are to be packaged and dispensed according to thepresent invention include the common household products for cleaningsinks, fabrics, ovens, and the like, as well as personal products suchas lotions, antiseptics, and bactericides. Inasmuch as the containerscan be refilled and reused, it is possible to extend the use of foamedmaterials into areas Where heretofore, because of the increased expenseof packaging a foam product, it was impossible to do so. Moreover, thefoam ejecting packages of the present invention do not employ liquefiedgases, or gases under pressure, and are safe for use in any environment.

As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the detailed descriptionand the drawing are only set forth as illustrative embodiments of theinvention. However, the invention is not to be construed as limitedthereby. It is possible to produce still other embodiments withoutdeparting from the inventive concept herein described and suchembodiments are within the ability of one skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A foam dispensing device and package comprising in combination:

(1) a deformable elongated housing having an opening at one extremitythereof for retaining a fluid to be dispensed as a foam;

(2) a rigid container or shorter longitudinal height than said elongatedhousing positioned within said elongated housing; said rigid containerhaving a top and bottom end, said top end having an opening which is inoperable association with, and in axial alignment with said opening insaid elongated housing, an opening in said bottom end for receiving adip tube, and an air passage for receiving air into the interior of saidrigid container;

(3) a cellular material within and substantially filling said rigidcontainer, said cellular material obstructing said opening for receivingsaid clip tube;

(4) a dip tube in fluid communication with said opening for receiving adip tube in said bottom of said rigid container and extending from belowand being obstructed by said cellular material within said rigidcontainer; and

(5) a closure for said elongated housing having a foam ejecting nozzle;

said dip tube, rigid container, cellular material, and housing beingconstructed and arranged such that fluid being dispensed from saidelongated housing and air entering said rigid container through said airpassage within said rigid container pass into said rigid container andinto and through said cellular material prior to being dispensed fromsaid foam ejecting nozzle.

2. The foam dispensing device and package of claim 1 wherein thedeformable elongated housing is polyethylene and the cellular materialis a polyvinylchloride foam.

3. The foam dispensing device and package of claim 2 wherein theelongated container contains a neck portion and said rigid container isof substantially the same height but of lesser diameter than said neckportion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,980,342 4/1961 Armour 222-211 X3,010,613 11/1961 Stossel 222 207 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, PrimaryExaminer.

US. Cl. X.R.

